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Morristown Mayor Gary Chesney is running for re-election to the office that he has held for eight years.

He was first elected to City Council in 2013, then two years later was elected mayor.

“In 2013, our City Council and the administrative leadership began a very organized focus on making an improvement to basic infrastructure and quality of life options. Our decisions were largely based on results from professional, statistically accurate citizen surveys,” Chesney said.

“Since then, we have built a new fire hall, another is on the way which will include a regional training facility. We now have modern public works facility for our street, garbage and engineering departments. And that cleared the way for us to be involved with the expansion for the TCAT facility.

“We are proud of new quality of life options which include the new Farmers Market and Pavilion, the Downtown Green, Fulton-Hill Park and our new state-of-the-art Morristown Landing Recreation and Events Center. And I know of no other mayor who has served in Morristown, who has been more open or responsive to public comment, than I have,” he said.

Chesney cited the role the city plays in the surrounding area as a reason for continued residential development.

“We’re a hub of eight rural counties and those counties send almost 18,000 people here every morning who go to work, shop see about their healthcare and go to school. I’ve said for a long time, if you’re doing all that here, why not live here? Many of them are now buying homes here to help to fulfill that,” he said.

“My philosophy has been as mayor to convey to others I like living here and I want my fellow citizens to like it, too. I enjoy bragging to others about Morristown, and I want my fellow citizens to enjoy bragging to others too. Hamblen County is the third smallest county in the state of Tennessee, in square mileage. I like to include this little nugget of information when I’m doing some of that bragging.

“And I’ve spent eight years saying this – and you’ve probably heard it – we are Morristown and we outpunch our weight class.”

Chesney feels the city is operating well with its current strategy, although when asked for one area the city could improve, he had an answer ready.

“I’m not sure there are any glaring changes that need to be made,” he said. “I imagine there are plenty of suggestions, but from an up-close view, I think things operate pretty well.

“One thing that does come to mind that we’ve had a problem with the last two or three years is a cap on fines in city court. I’m not talking about speeding tickets or running stop signs – I’m not talking about raising fines for that; there’s enough of us that have had that experience – but we have a number of folks who have been in blatant violation of appearance and safety codes and when they’re notified, they say ‘Eh, 50 bucks a fine is no big whoop’ and we’ve had trouble enforcing safety and most of the violators haven’t been too motivated by that $50 cap.”

Traffic flow in the city is also a concern expressed by Chesney, especially in one specific location.

“For the short term, I’ve asked our city administrator and the council to consider in our new budget for next year that we work on making some improvements to our large East end park, Frank Lorino, specifically we need to figure out how to make traffic flow easier.

“That park’s always been a nightmare for drivers who are exiting when three or four ballgames are over. They’re trying to get out at the same time there’s another set of games getting ready to start.

“I’m not talking about major renovations or additions to sports activities – those preferences are changing, and our new Parks and Recreation Director Travis Barbee has that in his attention. But I think the biggest issue at Frank Lorino today is doing a better job of getting traffic in, getting traffic about and getting traffic out.

Asked what large civic project the city should focus on yet, Chesney pointed to a project that has yet to hit the planning stages.

“Longer term, we are discussing, and we’re studying when would be the right time to add a performing arts center to Morristown,” he said. “If you are going to the (Morristown) Landing, and you’re in front of the Landing at that round-a-bout, you may not know this, but we own that land to the right. This would give our local theatre groups and school performing arts a quality venue. Concerts and professional entertainment would be a good draw.

“With the easy-in, easy-out highway system that’s around the Landing – which had a large part in making the decision of putting it, and the acreage, on the site where it is.

“The performing arts center won’t be a proposal until it is financially right, but I think that’s likely, long term, our next civic project,” Chesney said.

While speaking at the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce public forum, Chesney mostly focused on his ideas and what he believes is best for the city,

But when asked about his qualifications for the role, the mayor pointed out there is a significant gap between his experiences and his opponent’s.

“I think this is a great question for the mayor’s race. Of course, we have a very wide difference in qualifications for this job. I’ve lived here 40 years, 10 months and three weeks. I know historical and political back story of every single change that has occurred in our city and county that has us where we are today. I have more than just a pretty good idea of what has worked, what can work and what won’t work.

“In my time here, I’ve either been on the board or committee of United Way, Rose Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club, Department of Parks and Rec. I served 20 years on our school board; I’ve served two years and a councilman and I’m in the midst of eight years as your mayor. The old saying goes, ‘Experience. It’s what you get immediately after you need it.’ Well, I can tell you, I’ve accumulated a good bit of experience, wouldn’t you think.”

The election is May 2.

Early voting begins April 12.

Videos of the candidates for Morristown City Council and Mayor are online at www.citizentribune.com.